Tag: grapevine

How this North Texas city became the ‘Christmas Capital of Texas’

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With roots dating to 1844, the holidays have always been special in Grapevine, dubbed the Christmas Capitol of Texas. The city was named Best Christmas Town in the U.S. by ‘Newsweek’ in 2024.

Rich Skies LLC

City of Grapevine

As far back as 1844, when Grapevine was settled as the Grape Vine Prairie, there was something special about the Christmas holidays there. In fact, the first settlers woke up to snow on their initial Christmas.

And now, Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas. And it’s not a self-proclaimed title.

As recently as 2024 Grapevine was named the Best Christmas Town in the U.S. by “Newsweek” and it’s up for the honor again when they vote in 2026, according to city spokesperson Elizabeth Schrack.

“It all started in the late ‘90s and early 2000s when the Main Street merchants were decorating for Christmas, and it just grew each year and evolved, especially with the arrival or Gaylord Texan Resort and the beloved tradition Santa’s North Pole Express,” Schrack said.

The Gaylord Texas and its Lone Star Christmas display with 2 million lights, 15,000 ornaments, miles of garland and the always popular ICE! exhibit are once again back. This year the theme is from the movie “Elf.”

“The master artisans from Harbin, China, are sculpting the 2 million pounds of colorful ice blocks as we speak. It’s incredible,” Schrack said.

Many other activities will be back this year, including Great Wolf Lodge with Snowland, Bass Pro Shops and Santa’s Wonderland, and Meow Wolf has Phenomenomaly — a new interactive show. There is also scuba diving Santa at Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland has Holiday Bricktacular with Lego Santa.

And of course, there’s Historic Main Street, which is like going back in time.

The boutiques, cafes and winery tasting rooms all get in on the fun and are all decked out. There are photo opps up and down Main Street.

“Hometown Christmas has beautiful displays that are great for photos inside the Grapevine Tower Gallery, and new this year —– it’s expanded into the Settlement to City Museums,” Schrack said. “There you can see, in the individual historic homes that serve as museums showcasing Grapevine history, how the settlers would have celebrated Christmas.”

Several million folks make their way to Grapevine each year for the holiday events. This year, to make things even easier for visitors, the city is closing Main Street to traffic on weekends to allow more space for pedestrians to enjoy while walking around.

Also, the new Silver Line stops at DFW Airport North. Those from the northeast area can easily get there by hopping on TEXRail.

“It would be fun for couples to ride the commuter train, take it all in, visit a winery tasting room and cozy cafe before heading home,” Schrack said. “Could make for a romantic night out! Same with riding in from the west on TEXRail.”

There will also be shuttles to take visitors from the Grapevine Convention Center to Main Street.

Oh, and while you’re on Main Street — or generally around town — look for more giant decorations, always a popular touch to the festivities.

Schrack also noted that with everything going on, there’s no rush to take it all in with a single day.

“It’s like being in a classic Christmas movie, you’re just immersed in the spirit of the season and seeing smiles and people making memories,” Schrack said.

Holidays in Grapevine schedule

Nov. 24

Tom T. Turkey Pardoning by Mayor Tate, Historic Cotton Belt Depot, 10 a.m.

37th Annual Carol of Lights on Historic Main Street, 4–8 p.m.

Dec 1 and Dec. 8

Fifth Annual Merry & Bright Drone Shows (400 drones) on Main Street, 7 p.m.

Dec. 4

46th Annual Parade of Lights on Main Street. Theme is storybook parade, 7 p.m.

Attractions and live entertainment

(Check websites or call for more information)

Now-Jan. 4

ICE! – at Gaylord Texan Resort, scenes from the beloved film “Elf.”

Nov. 16-Jan. 3

Cirque Frost – at Gaylord Texan Resort. Young Jack discovers his destiny as the legendary winter spirit, Jack Frost.

Nov. 24-Jan. 4

Snowland – Great Wolf Lodge, which recently underwent a $41 million dollar transformation, turns into an immersive Winter Wonderland.

Now-Dec. 24

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops, free photos with Santa daily.

Nov. 14-Jan. 4

Phenomenomaly – Meow Wolf’s immersive play for the holiday season. Friday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (included with attraction tickets)

Dec. 4-24

Holiday Bricktacular – LEGOLAND Discovery Center, meet LEGO Santa.

Dec. 6, 13, 20

Scuba Diving Santa – SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium.

Nov. 28-Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24-26)

Santa’s North Pole Express – Grapevine Vintage Railroad, includes Christmas singalongs, special moments with Santa and his elves onboard and visits with Mrs. Claus during boarding.

Nov. 28-Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24-26)

Photos With Santa – 701 S. Main St. inside the Grapevine Christmas Market General Store.

Nov. 22-Jan. 6

Peace Plaza Ice Rink – Skate on the largest outdoor rink in North Texas under the glow of Grapevine’s live 60-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Nov. 21-Dec. 31

Texas Star Dinner Theater – “A Cold Hearted Christmas.” E.B. Neazer is the meanest, nastiest “grinchiest” citizen in town. He owns everything and hates everyone and on Christmas Eve he’s decided now is the time to spread his own wicked brand of Christmas cheer.

Now through Dec. 20

Historic Palace Theatre Broadway-Style Tribute Shows and Live Entertainment.

Historic Palace Theatre Movies – Enjoy classic Christmas films in the beautifully-restored art-deco style theatre.

Crafts and other family activites in Grapevine

(Check websites or call for more information)

Vetro Glassblowing Studios – Pick your colors and work with artisans at the 2,000-degree furnace.

Gingerbread House Making Classes – JudyPie experts will walk you through the process while you enjoy tasty, seasonal treats.

Ornament Making – International Porcelain Artists Museum.

Cartoons & Crafts at the Lancaster Theatre – Watch classic Christmas cartoons like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” while making a fun Christmas craft.

Dec. 5

First Friday Prairie Christmas at Historic Nash Farm – Tractor-drawn wagon rides and festive Christmas crafts. Then, sew your very own pair of mittens to take home.

Dec. 6

Nash Farm Farmstead Christmas Celebration – Share in the handmade beauty and timeless traditions of a farmstead Christmas.

Dec. 1-22

Nash Farm: A Handmade Christmas – Join the Nash Farmhands by the wood-burning stove to bake old-fashioned cookies and hand-print your own Christmas cards, vintage ornament and garland.

Popup bars and more for the adults

(Check websites or call for more information)

Dec. 5

Murder Mystery Dinner – Messina Hof Winery Tasting Room presents Bad Santa!,” 6:30 p.m.

Now through Valentine’s Day

Winter Wonderland Bubbles – Hotel Vin’s infamous Bubbles on the WineYard lawn features fur blankets, heaters and decadent treats.

Nov. 21-Dec. 31

Holly Jolly Pop-Up Bar at Third Rail – Christmas cocktails, festive décor and live entertainment. Inside Harvest Hall at Grapevine Main Station.

Holiday Hideaway Pop-Up Bar – Chicken N Pickle’s seasonal bar. New this year are two festively decorated igloos on the patio.

Bad Santa’s Boathouse – New this year. Christmas popup bar at Big Daddy’s Cantina at Lake Grapevine.

Nov. 21

Christmas Wine Train – Seasonal Texas wines and Christmas cheer on Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

When is Main Street closed to traffic?

Main Street will be closed to traffic on certain dates throughout the season for these events:

Nov. 23, 1 p.m.–Nov. 24 midnight.

Nov. 28, 6 a.m.-Dec. 1, 9 p.m.

Dec. 4, 6 p.m.-Dec. 8, 9 p.m.

Dec. 12, 6 a.m.-Dec. 15, 6 a.m.

Dec. 19, 6 a.m.-Dec. 22, 6 a.m.

Dec. 26, 6 a.m.-Dec. 29, 6 a.m.

All dates, times, prices are subject to change.

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Rick Mauch

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November 18, 2025
Grapevine man dies after hunting mishap in Marion County

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A 45-year-old Grapevine man died in a hunting accident in Marion County just after midnight Saturday, , Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said.

Jose Ramirez of Grapevine was removing a gun from a vehicle when it accidentally discharged, striking him. Despite life-saving measures, Ramirez died from his injuries, KLTV reported.

Marion County is about three hours east of Fort Worth.

“We encourage every hunter to take safety seriously. Always handle all firearms as if they are loaded, keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction and take time to unload your firearm before placing or removing it from a vehicle,” officials said in a social media post. “Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

The accident is under investigation, officials said.

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Shambhavi Rimal

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.

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November 16, 2025
North Texas child care centers failed to report sexual abuse, mom’s lawsuit says

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This story contains references to sexual abuse of young children. If you suspect that a child has been abused or neglected, contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services by phone at 1-800-252-5400 or online through the Texas Abuse Hotline website.

Two child care centers in North Texas are accused of allowing an employee to continue to work for them despite reports of inappropriate behavior and sexual abuse of children at those centers, according to a lawsuit filed this week in Tarrant County district court.

The lawsuit filed on Tuesday by Tiffany Young, a mother of a 2-year-old daughter who attended Lionheart Children’s Academy in Grapevine, alleges that her daughter was sexually abused at the child care center by teacher Thaddaeus Davidson after he was hired in December 2020. Davidson previously worked at Lewisville New Hope Learning Center, which provided positive references to Lionheart on his behalf after allegedly knowing about his inappropriate interactions with children that occurred there as well, according to the suit.

The suit states that Lionheart and Lewisville New Hope Learning Center disregarded state laws that require child care employees to report suspected instances of child abuse within 48 hours of the abuse happening or being suspected of happening. As a result, Young’s daughter was subject to sexual abuse for two years, according to the suit.

Davidson, who was 32 years old at the time of joining Lionheart, would later be at the center of an investigation that uncovered “the abuse of several other children at other daycares in the North Texas area, including (Young’s daughter),” the suit states. After his arrest in October 2022, Davidson pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecency with a child with sexual contact. He was sentenced in a plea agreement in December 2023 to 10 years of probation with deferred adjudication and required to register as a sex offender, court records show.

He is named in the suit as a defendant alongside two child care centers that formerly employed him. Lionheart is located at 121 Community Church. The now-closed Lewisville New Hope Learning Center had been located inside First Lewisville United Methodist Church.

Young, the plaintiff and parent, is demanding more than $1 million in damages and is requesting a jury trial.

“I trusted Lionheart to care for my baby, and instead they ignored every warning sign and allowed her to be harmed,” Young said in a statement. “Lionheart’s failures have changed my life and my daughter’s life forever.”

Lionheart staff said in a statement on Friday that they deeply care about the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual growth of the children the center serves, and its top priority “is and continues to be children’s safety.”

“While we are unable to comment specifically on pending litigation or individuals involved, we’ve been made aware of a recent lawsuit brought forth regarding a 2022 investigation at one of our Grapevine, Texas locations and dispute those allegations. We are grateful for the laws in place that protect all children, and we will continue to comply fully with all state laws and licensing requirements,” the child care center said.

Officials with Lewisville New Hope Learning Center could not be reached for comment .

Davidson declined to comment in a text message to the Star-Telegram on Friday and referred questions to his attorney. It’s unclear who will be representing him in the suit.

The allegations against Davidson include inappropriate touching, such as kissing little girls on the lips and having them sit on his lap or with their legs wrapped around him while working at Lionheart, the lawsuits states. He also was accused of taking photos of girls in the bathroom at the center. A Lionheart teacher told the center’s director in a July 2022 email that he “touches little girls in class inappropriately, tickling them underneath their dresses” and that he was seen “rubbing up their thighs” during a movie, the suit states.

In a forensic interview and hospital examination, Young’s daughter revealed that Davidson “touched my privates” and pointed to her genitalia when asked to identify where, according to the suit.

“Multiple” colleagues of Davidson from both child care centers came forward to leadership with complaints about his “inappropriate and sexually oriented” behavior, but none of these reports were shared with the state, according to the suit.

“This lawsuit is about accountability and prevention,” said The Button Law Firm daycare injury lawyer Russell Button, who represents Young. “Texas daycare laws exist for a reason: to stop abuse before it happens. When daycare centers like Lionheart and New Hope ignore reports of inappropriate behavior, they endanger every child in their care. The psychological trauma of sexual abuse can stay with victims for a lifetime, and that’s why mandatory reporting of suspected abuse is the law.”

This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 6:23 PM.

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Lina Ruiz

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Lina Ruiz covers early childhood education in Tarrant County and North Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A University of Florida graduate, she previously wrote about local government in South Florida for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.

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October 31, 2025
Amber Alert issued for missing 13-year-old Grapevine, Texas girl

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A Texas Amber Alert was issued for 13-year-old Kaylin Rickards, last seen about 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Grapevine Public Library at 1201 Municipal Way.

Texas Amber Alert

A Texas Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night for a missing 13-year-old girl from Grapevine.

Kaylin Rickards was last seen about 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Grapevine Public Library at 1201 Municipal Way.

Rickards is 5 feet 1 inch tall and about 130 pounds. She has black hair with blue braids, and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with a black tank top underneath, black sweatpants and pink Crocs.

She is believed to have been in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck with a short bed and silver grill, police said.

Anyone with information can call 911 or the Grapevine Police Department at (817) 410-8127.

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Amy McDaniel

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Amy McDaniel edits stories about criminal justice, breaking news and education for the Star-Telegram.

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September 30, 2025
More than 1,000 campers evacuated due to explosive wildfire on the Grapevine in Los Angeles County

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GORMAN, Calif. (KFSN) — A wildfire burning on the Grapevine has doubled in size overnight, sparking evacuations from a popular recreation area.

CAL FIRE says the Post Fire started just after 1:45 p.m. Saturday near southbound Interstate 5 and Gorman Post Road. The flames have burned at least 12,000 acres with 2 percent containment as of Sunday morning.

About 1,200 campers at the Hungry Valley Park State Vehicular Recreation Area were ordered to evacuate Saturday night, and authorities closed Pyramid Lake, which was expecting thousands of visitors for Father’s Day, due to the threat of the Post Fire, CAL FIRE said.

The Post Fire in Gorman, California, was burning out of control Sunday in the Tejon Pass area of Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department says two properties were damaged and no injuries were reported. More than 300 firefighters, including air tanker crews, are battling the fire from the ground and sky.

In a social media post, Kings County Firefighters announced Sunday they were heading to help battle the Post Fire.

Interstate 5 was briefly closed on Saturday, triggering a traffic jam through the area, officials said.

California Highway Patrol Fort Tejon wants to remind drivers on Interstate 5 not to stop in the center median to take photos or videos.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

ABC News contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Marc Anthony Lopez

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June 16, 2024
Eggs of grapevine-gobbling insect snagged en route to California. Are vineyards at risk?

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Eggs of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that’s wreaked havoc on crops across more than a dozen states, were recently discovered on a metal art installation that was headed to Sonoma County, one of California’s most esteemed wine regions.

The discovery of the infamous bug’s eggs represents the first time the insect has been seen in California. The California Assn. of Winegrape Gowers, a statewide nonprofit, warns the invasive plant-hopper native to Asia has the potential to affect the entire winegrape industry in California, potentially pushing up prices if an infestation results in a smaller grape crop.

“Spotted lanternflies have been found in 18 states and have proven to pose a serious threat to vineyards,” Natalie Collins, president of the growers group, said. “These invasive insects feed on the sap of grapevines, while also leaving behind a sticky honeydew residue on the clusters and leaves.”

Impacts of the stress on the plant could range from reduced yields — and fewer bottles of wine for consumers — and, if severe and persistent enough, complete vine death and higher wine prices. No adult spotted lanterflies have been reported in the state, Collins said.

California is responsible for an average of 81% of the total U.S. wine production each year, according to the Wine Institute.

The association warned that if there are additional egg masses in California from other shipments that haven’t been detected “they may produce adult [spotted lanternflies] in the coming weeks with peak populations expected in late summer or early fall.”

The California Department of Food and Agriculture last year developed an action plan to try to eradicate the pests if they were to enter the state. State officials have asked the public to look for egg masses outdoors. If a bug is found, they recommend grabbing it and placing it in a container where it can’t escape, snapping a photo and reporting it to the CDFA Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899

The metal art installation on which the eggs were found was shipped to California in late March from New York, where the insects have been a persistent problem. After 11 viable egg masses were spotted at the Truckee Border Protection Station, the 30-foot-tall artwork was sent back to Nevada, where officials discovered an additional 30 egg masses. The art was power washed with detergent and then sent on its way again to Truckee, according to the association.

By the time the installation reached Sonoma County on April 4, the owner agreed to allow officials to open up the hollow beams in the artwork to inspect it further. Inside, they found an additional three egg masses and searched until they were confident no other eggs were present.

Spotted lanternflies were first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and quickly spread to nearby states, where they became a nuisance. In New York they proved to be such a problem that officials encouraged residents to kill them on sight. The pest has become so notorious that it made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in a 2022 skit where one viewer applauded them for capturing “the unbelievable hubris of the lanternfly.”

While they feed on more than 100 different plant species, they have a particular affinity for grapevines and a tree known as the “tree of heaven.” The adults, which have the ability to fly short distances, are typically 1 inch long. At rest, with its wings folded, the bug is a dull tan-gray color with black spots. During flight, its open wings feature a bright red, black and white pattern.

The species is often described as a “hitchhiker,” since its egg masses appear similar to cakes of mud and can easily be transported on tractor trailers and semi-trucks. During the first three immature stages of the bug’s life cycle they appear to be black with white spots and later turn red and black with white spots.

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Hannah Fry

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June 13, 2024